Improvement in cigar-machines



RaM. COLE, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

Letters Patent No. 88,850, dated April 13, 1869.

To all whom it may' concern:

Be it known that I, R. M. COLE, of Burlington, Chittenden county, Vermont, have invented a new and improved Cigar-Machine; and I do hereby declare thatv the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, which'will enable others' skilled in the art to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- 4 Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section 0f my improved cigar-machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same,

taken on the plane of the line y y, fig. 1.

Similar letters.of reference indicate corresponding parts. A v

This invention has for its object to construct a machine for rolling cigars, in which both right and 1eft. handed wrappers can be used, in which the cigar can' be seen while it is being formed, and which can be retained in motion continually, even when no tobacco is rolled in it.

The invention consists, first, in so shaping the formers of a cigarmachine that a cigar pointed at both ends isformed therein, so that the wrapper can be pasted on either end,`thus allowing the use of a right or left-handed wrapper. When the cigar is completed, the unfinished point is cut oi.

The invention consists, also, in so guiding the apron, by means of rollers or cross-bars immediately in rear ofthe forming-apparatns, that it will be closed behind the moulds, to prevent any tobacco from being carried along, by the apron, beyond the mould.

The invention further consists in forming the cigars partly between stationary, Le., non-revolving moulds and one concave roller; that is to'say, in carrying the apron over the said moulds, in such manner that the moulding or forming-apparatus may not be entirely closed in front, 'to allow the process of rolling to be observed through the slot lett in front. The wrapper can also ne inserted through the said slot.

The invention finally consists insecuring the upper stationary mould or cap to a frame, which can, by suitable levers, be readily moved up and down, and which is held down by strong springs. I

When a cigar has been completely rolled, the cap is elevated, and opens the mould, so that. the cigar can be removed, and iilliug for a new one put in.

The whole machine is very simple, cannot get readily out of repair, and will operate in a reliable manner.

A, in the drawing, represents a frame, made of castiron, or other suitable material, of such suitable size and strength that it will support the workingmechan ism of my improved cigar-'machine In the frame A are the bearingsof the several horizontal rollers, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

The rollers B, C, D, and E are arranged in an inclined plane; that is tosay, the front roller, B, is lower than the one directly in rear, O; that lower than D; and E, the highest.

The roller F is almost directly under E,Aand the roller G some distance under D, and lower` than F. The bearings of all the rollers are of ordinary or suitable construction, and provided with'oil-cups, for lubricating.

The roller O is concave; that is to say, it is thicker at the ends than in the middle.

Directly in front of the roller O` is secured to the frame A, a horizontal stationary cup, H, which is as long as the cigar to be made, and of' about semi-cylindrical form, with pointed ends, as indicated in the drawmgs.

I is a cup of the saine shape as H. It is secured in aninvrrted position, to a frame, J, which has vertical tubes, a, at its ends, as shown in iig. 2.

These tubes are fitted around vertical posts or pins, b b, that project from the frame A, and are allowed sliding motion on said pins, so that theinverted cup or the cap I, which is directly above the lower cup or mould, H, can be raised or lowered, to be any desired distance from the said lower mould.

The pins b are, at their upper ends, connected by a cross-bar, c, to which a lever, d, is pivoted.

This lever is, by means of a' rod, c, connected with the frame J, so that, by its means, the said frame J can be raised or lowered at will.

f f are spiral springs, fitted around the pins 11,' above the tubes a. They have the tendency to force the frame J down till it rests on edges or shoulders, g, of the frame A. It is then as far down as possible, and the cup will, with the mould, form a cylinder, which is pointed at both ends, but which is slotted in front and rear, as in fig. l, as'the edges of H and I do not come in contact.

K is a horizontal roller, hung in arms, h, that project from the frame J in front, the said roller K being higher than the-cap I, as shown.

L is a horizontal roller, or a cross-bar, arranged on the frame A, quite close to the roller O, and between the same and the cap I, as shown.

The various rollers that are hung in the frame A are connected by suitable gearing, or otherwise, in such mannNer that they will all revolve when one of them receives motion by means of a treadle, belt, or other mechanism.

The lower roller, G, is, however, not connected with the others, but is arranged in sliding boxes, i. l, as

shown.

The mould H, cap I, and roller O, should be so arranged that they are easily removable, to be replaced by others adaptedto cigars of different shape.-

An endless apron, M, is laid around thel several rolll ers of this machine, in such manner that it fits over the concave faces of the cup and mould. Oommencing vat the roller B, it is first fitted over the mould H, an(

)ver the roller C, between L and'C, under the roller D, around the latter; thence forward again between L and C, under the cup I, around the roller K, and back over E; from E it passes down over F. and under G, andup to B..

When the rollers are turned, the apron moves in the direction of the arrows, shown inv iig. 1.

The roller G, hanging loose, acts as a weight, to keep the apron constantly stretched.

The roller or cross-bar L'holds the two thicknesses of the apron, immediately in rear of the mould and cap, close together, so' that no tobacco can, from the mould, be carried away by the apron.

The operation is as follows:

Before a cigar is to be formed, the frame J is elevated, by means of the lever d, as indicated by red lines in tig. 2, and thereby sufficient space is left between the mould and cap to allow the insertion of the filler. When the filler has been put-in between the mould and cap, the latter is brought down, and held down by the springs f. The apron, being in constant motion, now rolls the ller in the form produced hy the part-s H, U, and I, into the requisite. shape, which will be nearly cylindrical, but pointed at both ends, as shown by red lines in fig. 2.

It will be noticed that, through the slot left in front, between H and I, the progress of the rolling-process can be inspected. AThe wrapper is also introduced through this slot. It is placed upon the apron, and carried by the same into'the mould, where it is wound around the filler, beinglongitudinally guided by the hand of the operator.

The last end of the wrapper receives some paste,'to

form the point of the cigar, which is thus entirely completed. Its other pointed end is cut ofi' after the cigar is taken out.

By having both ends of the mould and cap pointed, the Wrapper can be finished at either end, and, consequently, a right and left-handedwrapper may be einployed. When, however, this feature should not be desirable in certain machines, Imoulds may be introduced which have only one end pointed, in which case the roller 0 should be shaped accordingly.

Some ci' the rollers may be coated with rubber, to better carry the apron. The rollers D and F are represented as -beingthus covered.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-'- l. So shaping the stationary or revolving formers of a cigar-machine' that cigarspointed at both ends may be formed therein, to allow the use of right and left-handed wrappers, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the mould H and cap I with the roller C and endless apron M, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the roller G with the endless apron M, whereby the proper tension of the latter is preserved during its opera-tion, als` herein shown and described. A

4. The combination of the non-revolving cap I with the sliding spring-frame J, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. The cross-bar or roller L, when so arranged, close above the roller C, as to keep the apron closed in rear of the forming-apparatus, substantially as set forth, to prevent the loss of tobacco from the mould, as specified.

6. A cigar-machine, consisting of the mould H, sliding cap I, roller G, apron M, and rollers B, D, E, F, G, and K, all'combined, arranged, and operating substantially as herein shown and described.

R. M. COLE.

Witnesses Gno. POPE, S. G. Conn. 

